Principal Advisor

Justice; Wellington; On-site; NZD 130,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

4.4 weeks holiday leave

Flexible work hours

Online professional development portal

Access to inclusive networks

Job summary

Ministry of Justice’s Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention seeks an experienced leader to drive strategy, policy and system-wide change across Aotearoa. You will shape investment directions and coordinate across Ministers, executives and communities.

You will guide evidence-based advice, facilitate multi-agency collaboration and mentor team members while embedding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in the Centre's work. This is a high-impact, system-level role.

Qualifications

• At least eight years' experience leading strategy development, policy or comparable complex public-sector work.
• Experience in social sector, children's systems, or family violence and sexual violence system.
• Strong analytical capability with evidence-based advice.
• Applied experience in systems thinking, design-led approaches, innovation and co-design.
• Effective facilitation skills with cross-functional groups.

Responsibilities

• Lead complex strategic workstreams and action plan priorities across the family violence and sexual violence system.
• Develop advice for Ministers, Executive Board and senior leaders on strategic direction, investment and implementation.
• Use systems thinking and design-led methods to frame problems and develop solutions.
• Convene cross-functional teams, subject-matter experts, agencies, providers and communities.
• Develop and sustain key relationships across the system to enable work and embed shifts.
• Design practical implementation pathways with clear plans and tactics to achieve change.
• Anticipate risks and provide credible advice on sensitive or ambiguous issues.
• Provide intellectual leadership, coaching and guidance across the team and wider Centre.

Skills

Strategy development

Policy leadership

Systems thinking

Design-led approaches

Facilitation

Stakeholder engagement

Change management

Written & verbal communication

Mentoring & developing others

Māori concepts & Te Tiriti understand

Education

Tertiary qualification or equivalent

Job description

Te Haeata/The OpportunityIf you are looking for mahi where you can make a genuine contribution to the wellbeing of Aotearoa, this is an opportunity to help shape system-wide change. Eliminating family violence and sexual violence is one of the greatest opportunities for improving people's wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand.

What you will do:

• Lead complex strategic workstreams and action plan priorities across the family violence and sexual violence system.
• Develop compelling, robust and evidence-based advice for Ministers, the Executive Board and senior leaders on strategic direction, investment, funding and implementation.
• Use systems thinking, design-led methods and innovation to frame problems, test assumptions and develop solutions.
• Convene and facilitate cross-functional teams, subject-matter experts, agencies, providers and communities.
• Develop and sustain key relationships across the system to enable the work and embed lasting shifts.
• Design practical implementation pathways, with clear plans, activities and tactics to achieve change and deliver results.
• Anticipate emerging risks and opportunities and provide credible advice on politically sensitive or ambiguous issues.
• Provide intellectual leadership, quality assurance, coaching and guidance across the team and wider Centre.

Ō pūkenga/Skills and Experience

You will bring:

• At least eight years' experience leading strategy development, policy or comparable complex public-sector work.
• Experience working in the social sector, children's systems, or the family violence and sexual violence system.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical capability, with a record of producing sound, evidence-based advice.
• Applied experience in systems thinking, design-led approaches, innovation and co-design.
• Highly effective facilitation skills and experience bringing cross-functional groups together to build understanding and design solutions.
• Strong planning capability and a proven track record of delivering change and working at pace.
• Excellent written and verbal communication, relationship management and influencing skills.
• Experience providing intellectual and professional leadership, including mentoring and developing others.
• A relevant tertiary qualification, or equivalent knowledge, skills and experience.
• Knowledge of the family violence and sexual violence evidence base, public-sector systems and accountability requirements would be an advantage.
• You will also bring cultural competence, an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to ensuring Māori perspectives are considered in the Centre's work.

If your background looks a little different and you believe you can bring value to the role, we would still like to hear from you.

Mō mātou/About us

The Centre for Family Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention supports the Executive Board for the Elimination of Family Violence and Sexual Violence to provide leadership and coordination across government and implement Te Aorerekura, the National Strategy, and its Action Plans.

We are a small unit with a significant system role. We hold a whole-of-system view, connect evidence with practice and work through influence, relationships and practical strategic advice.

Our Strategy and Stewardship group brings together evidence, policy and system insights to shape strategic priorities and investment advice, support the Board's oversight, and help agencies improve outcomes across the family violence and sexual violence system.

Our values are Innovation | Auahatanga, Equity | Ōritetanga, Integrity | Tika, Pono, Collaboration | Kotahitanga, and Compassion | Aroha.

We work as one team and flex across functions to bring the right mix of capability to each priority.

Ngā painga o tēnei wāhi mahi/What's great about working here

• Work on complex issues with significant potential to improve wellbeing across Aotearoa.
• Influence strategic direction and investment across a multi-agency system.
• Work with experienced colleagues across strategy, policy, investment, evidence and system design.
• Being housed by the Ministry of Justice, we offer you the same range of benefits to support your wellbeing and help make the Ministry a great place to be.
• 4.4 weeks holiday leave
• flexible work hours where possible
• an online professional development portal
• access to a variety of inclusive and proactive networks

Utu ā-tau/Salary

The appointing salary for this role will be between $130,129 and $168,062, based on skills and experience.

Applications close on 22 November 2026.